Director of Donor Engagement and Stewardship, Advancement

Essential Functions

• Develops, implements, and leads a successful and integrated donor relations program that strategically targets all levels of giving.
• Ensures donors are acknowledged and recognized to strengthen their financial support for the University.
• Creates timely and appropriate donor correspondence, researching and preparing donor stewardship information through Raiser’s Edge CSM, and assists Advancement officers with preparing meeting material for donors and/or University leaders.
• Works closely with the Strategic Communications Director to facilitate donor communication through mail and e-mail correspondence, including endowment reports, gift acknowledgements, invitations, newsletter updates, fundraising campaign materials, pledge reminders, and tribute notifications.
• Plans and collaborates with the events management team to execute donor engagement and recognition events that show gratitude and appreciation to donors. Manages and coordinates any campaign-related kick-offs and donor recognition or engagement events. Ensures that donor special events are communicated and added to the calendars of the appropriate officials and targeted guests.
• Creates innovative and leading-edge programs to acknowledge, engage, and steward donors; ensures the external reporting to donors on endowments.
• Works in collaboration with the Office of Annual Giving to implement an effective stewardship strategy for Lipscomb’s annual Day of Giving.
• Tracks donor relations and stewardship activities in the established databases to enhance relationships and increase the likelihood of continued contributions.
• Responsible for the review and control of all gift acknowledgments, including receipts, thank you letters, pledge reminders, tribute notifications, and annual endowment reports.
• Works closely with Advancement staff and other campus leaders to report to donors on the use of gifts, to arrange meetings between donors and beneficiaries if appropriate, and to help celebrate gifts.
• Manages AWL scholarship process, working closely with chapter presidents, student recipients, and Financial Aid during the awarding process.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required and a minimum of 3 years of experience in Advancement and/or Donor Relations with an educational institution or non-profit, preferred.
• Successful experience: Specific experience stewarding and cultivating donors and alumni is a plus.
• Other preferences: Experience with Raiser’s Edge CRM, Blackbaud Scholarship manager, and Gratavid.